Orlando Science Center is inviting Central Florida to think about design in a whole new way. Its newest featured exhibition, Designing with Dignity, opened October 24, 2026 and runs through January 4, 2027, exploring the fundamental right of every person to live with dignity — and the role that thoughtful, human-centered design can play in making daily life easier, safer and more welcoming for everyone. Visitors can try hands-on design challenges, encounter real stories from neighbors whose lives have been changed by accessible solutions, and imagine objects and spaces that work better for all bodies and all ages.
The exhibition is presented in collaboration with Access Living and the Chicago Architecture Center, and it lands at a museum that has spent the past year rethinking how its own building welcomes people. Orlando Science Center completed a major accessibility renovation that added a new ramp at its main entrance, refreshed the lobby, improved wayfinding with larger, clearer signage inside and out, and upgraded the Dr. Phillips CineDome lobby, concessions and restrooms. In other words, the ideas inside Designing with Dignity are visible the moment you walk through the door.
That makes the exhibit a natural fit for a family day out in Orlando. While grown-ups linger over prototypes and stories, kids can move between four floors of hands-on discovery — from the engineering challenges of The Hive makerspace to the prehistoric giants of DinoDigs and the gentle wonders of KidsTown, designed for the youngest scientists. Because the run stretches across the holiday season, it is an easy addition to a festive itinerary: one ticket, one roof, and experiences that spark conversation long after you head home.
Designing with Dignity is included with general admission, and members receive free admission as always. Orlando Science Center is at 777 E. Princeton St. in Loch Haven Park; check osc.org before you go for daily hours, timed-entry details and the full calendar of workshops and events connected to the exhibition.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
